2. Braxton Jones has a lot at stake with the Chicago Bears this year
Braxton Jones is entering a huge third season. Jones ended year one with the arrow pointing up and ended year two with a few more questions, mainly about penalties and injuries. The Bears drafted a left tackle in the third round which has to be a sign of their confidence in Jones moving forward.
If Jones plays this season and does not get a contract extension in the following offseason then he is going to likely hit the market in 2025. If a tackle with four years of experience hits the market, he will get overpaid. So, his play this year will determine his status with the Bears long term.
Jones will either play well enough that the Bears lock him down, or he will enter 2025 knowing that he is going to be playing to prove himself to 31 other teams. Of course, there is also the small chance that the rookie from Yale can step in and start over Jones sooner than later. His job was safer as a fifth-round rookie from Southern Utah, so it is safe to say that things have been a bit more up in the air with Braxton Jones this summer.